30 April 2011

28 April 2011

Uefa has charged Real Madrid and Barcelona over incidents in their Champions League semi-final, including Jose Mourinho's post-match outburst. The Real case also centres on the dismissals of midfielder Pepe and manager Mourinho and the behaviour of their fans during Wednesday's match. Uefa is also looking at the red card shown to Barca reserve keeper Jose Pinto at half-time in their 2-0 win. Both cases will be heard by the Uefa Control and Disciplinary Body on 6 May.

14 April 2011

13 April 2011

Manchester United sealed a place in the Champions League semi-finals with victory over Chelsea as Carlo Ancelotti's decision to axe Didier Drogba in favour of Fernando Torres backfired at Old Trafford. Ancelotti took the gamble of favouring the British record £50m capture from Liverpool ahead of Drogba in an attempt to overhaul the one-goal advantage United were protecting from the first leg at Stamford Bridge. The striker's struggles continued, however, and he was hauled off at half-time after Javier Hernandez doubled United's lead in the tie moments before the break.

Torres suits green even less than he does blue

Drogba underlined the error of his coach's ways with an outstanding second-half show that even brought Chelsea hope when he scored with 13 minutes left as Ancelotti's side struggled under the handicap of being reduced to 10 men when Ramires was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Nani. If Chelsea harboured any ambition of turning the game on its head, it was short-lived as Park Ji-sung restored United's lead seconds later to clinch a meeting with either holders Inter Milan or Schalke 04 in the last four.

As Old Trafford celebrated at the final whistle, Ancelotti cut a predictably disconsolate figure with only the very faint prospect of challenging United for the title left in his attempts to follow up the Premier League and FA Cup Double he claimed in his first season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham may be forced to sell some of their leading players, including midfielders Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, due to the financial implications of failing to qualify for next season's Champions League. Spurs must overturn a 4-0 first leg deficit in their quarter-final with Real Madrid to stay in this year's Champions League and are currently outside the automatic qualification places for next year's competition.Full story: Daily Mail

Bolton striker Johan Elmander and defender Gary Cahill could be on their way to Arsenal in the summer.Full story: Metro

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is hoping to persuade Roma defender Philippe Mexes to turn his back on a move to join AC Milan as the Arsenal boss looks to lure the experienced France international to North London.Full story: caughtoffside.com

Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay is due for talks over his future at Barcelona having been left frustrated by a lack of action in the team. This will interest Liverpool, who have been monitoring the 25-year-old.Full story: Talksport